Fire-escape.



E. LEMONS.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.25, 1913.

1 1 4,46 Patented Apr 6, 1915.

Attorneys IHE NORRIS PETERS CO.. F'HOTU-LITHO WASHINGTON, D C.

ELIAS LEMON S, SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

Application filed April 25, 1913. '1 Serial No. 763,686.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELIAS LEMONS, a citizenof the United States, residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawannaand State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Fire-Escape,of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to fire escapes, and aims to provide anovel and improved structure of that character.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a novel fire escapeembodying zigchutes or slideways which maybe attached to a building, orwhich may be disposed or laid upon an ordinary Zig-zag stair lireescape, so as to communicate with the respective windows, and to permitthe occupants of the building to enter the fire escape at the variouswindows and to then slide to the ground in a sitting posture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fire escape ofthe nature indicated embodying coverings or protectors for the severalchutes and platforms, the coverings or protectors cooperating with eachother to provide a continuous passage throughout the length of the fireescape, and having openings registering with the respective windows,doors or openings in the building through which the occupants may passinto the fire escape.

With the foregoing general objects outlined and with other objects inview, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the presentinvention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in thedetails of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it beingunderstood that cianges in the precise embodiment of the invention canbe made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawing, wherein 2- Figure l is a fragmental elevation ofthe fire escape as applied to a building. Fig. 2 is a fragmental planview of the fire escape, the coverings or protectors being partiallybroken away. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 83 ofFig. 1. Fig. 4 is an elevation disclosing how the fire escape may befolded or collapsed prior to erection.

In carrying out the invention, reference being had in detail to thedrawing, there is provided a plurality of platforms or land ings 1 forthe several floors of the building, the platforms being arranged in avertically staggered manner and being disposed adjoining the respectivewindows, it being understood, of course, that the fire escape may beextended to any suitable height. The platforms 1 are provided with theupturned sides 2 along and coextensive with their remote edges, and withthe upturned ends 3 at their outer ends.

The chutes or slideways 5'are connected at their ends to the adjoiningedges of the platforms 1, the chutes being arranged in a zigzag manner,and the alternate ones being attached adjoining the respective ends ofthe platforms. The chutes or slideways 5 embody the upturned sides 6, sothat the chutes are channel shaped in cross section, the ends of thesides or flanges 6 being cut vertically or obliquely relative to thechutes, so as to properly cooperate with the platforms. The chutes 5 arehinged to the adjoining edges of the respective platforms l by means ofhinges d, it being noted that the ends of the chutes are open so as tocommunicate with the platforms, thereby providing or establishing acontinuous zig-zagged chute or slideway throughout the length of thefire escape.

Those chutes 5 disposed adjoining the wall of the building or the innerchutes may be conveniently supported by means of brackets 7, and theplatforms may be braced, as at 7, while the respective chutes 5 may beconnected by braces 7, so as to provide a substantial or rigidstructure. It is to be understood, of course, that the chutes orplatforms may be supported or braced in any suitable manner, accordingto the circumstances.

Hand rails 8 are attached to the inner faces of the sides 6 of thechutes, and similar hand rails 8 and 8" are attached to the outer sidesand ends of the platforms, in order that the persons passing down thefire escape, may grasp the rails so as to control their movement.

Arched coverings or protectors 9 have the lower edges of their sidessecured to the upper edges of the sides 6 of the chutes, this beingpreferably accomplished by riveting or otherwise securing strips 10 tothe edges of the sides 6 of the chutes and clamping the edges of thecoverings 9 under the strips 10. The coverings or protectors 9 arepreferably constructed of wire mesh 2 i c I 1,134,468

of suitable gage, Which Will permit of vision the chutes 5' beingadapted to seat on the I therethrough, but Which prevent persons stairsor inclined ladders connecting the from being crowded or pushed off 'ofthe landings. The-construction of the present fire escape, it beingnoted that the entire fire fire escape is such that the same may beescape is closed or covered, as will hereincompactly folded prior toerection, for purafter' appear, to prevent such accidents; v pose ofcompact storage or shipment, this Similar coverings or protectors 9' areatfeature being illustrated in Fige. It ill tached to the platforms, andalso embody be observed that the severalicoverings may outer ends 9*,the inner ends of the co eralso be nested together in aiconvenientmanlngs being open so as to communicate With ner whendetached, so as vto permit the the WmdoWs or openings in'the Walls ofthe chutes to be folded asillustratedcin' Fig. 4, building. The ends ofthe coverings 9 'a're and in order that theentirefire escapemay "cutvertically soas to properly abut against be stored Withinasmall compass.

the coverings 9 of the platform, the'inner Having thus described theinvention, What"? v ordlnary zig-zagged fire'escape nowpreva--Witnesses:

sides of the coverings 9 being cut away so is'claimed'as new: is i r asto communlcate with the endsof the c A fire'escape structure comprislnga plucoverings 9. Thus, a continuous covering rality of platformsarranged in staggered is provided for the entire fire es cape,'therelation, chutes [arranged in 'zig-Zag order same having openingsregistering With'the and having theiriends hinged to the adjoin- IWindows. The rear or inner ends of the platform are innerends of theplatforms being extended preferablyextended, so as to project to the tocommunicate With openings in a build- Windows, and in order to permitthe respecing, with the chutesspaced from the build tive chutes to bespaced from the Wall of ing. m the building. a i I The advantagesincident in" the present as my OWIl, I have hereto aflixedmy signerconstruction will be apparent from the foreture in the presence of tWoWitnesses. I oin it being observed that the present V i i f ireeecapemay be set or disposedupon the 1 WM; HEARNE,

lent, the platforms 1 being adapted to seat JAMES H. KEARNEY.

on the landings of ordinary fire escapes and ing edges of theadjoiningplatforins, the

' In testimony that I claim the foregoing Copies of this patent may' beobtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Coinmi ssioncr ofPatents,

Washington, D. 0.

